Hey everyone:

Recently my 93gxe started to sputter and stall. I had it towed down to my trusted mechanic, and he told me it's a Mass Air Flow sensor. I asked to also give me a price to do the timing belt, since it's been about 60k. Here are the prices he gave me. They seemed high...I wondered if I could get opinions on that.

MAF/AirFilter/Labor: $455
Timing Belt/Other Belts/Water Pump/Cam or Crank cover?: $800-$1000

I wasn't sure what the cam/crank thing was. He said he thought it probably needed to be done, but wouldnt' do it if it was fine when he got in there. It seems like I paid about $400 for a timing belt/water pump at the dealer once.

I told him to go ahead on the MAF.

Any opinoins? These figures even in the ball park?


Keep on keepin' on,
Matt

 

You could probably do the MAF yourself. The throttle body cleaning guide on www.motorvate.ca gives instructions on how to remove. For the timing belt, i would just shop or call around and find the best price.

 

too bad you don't know how do the little stuff. You could get a remanufactured MAFS for around 170 and a filter for 10, and install them in 15 min.

 

Are MAFS really that expensive? We just replaced one on my dads 2002 maxima and a MAF only cost us 90.

 

that price on the water pump/timing is ridicoulous. I just did mines and i replaced tensioner/belt cam seals & crank seals w/pump drive belts also did upper intake plenum / v/c and grommets/ plugs/fuel filter/air filter/oil filter/pcv valve and I spent just over 200 dollars on parts. Did all the labor myself. You might spend about 300 on parts. Fortunately I get the dealer hook up. Also some dealers run specials 299 for timing belt only. Labor does kill you though. 3.6 hrs to do timing belt(tensioner) 5.8 to do belt/tensioner and crank seal. 5.0 to do both cam seals. of course belts are included in time because you have to take them apart. So figure his labor rate by hours and then you will see how much he is charging you for parts. These are hours that a dealer will charge a customer. I hope that will help you out

 

I paid $600 4 years ago for a timing belt job. $800 - $1000 is very high.

 

This is great info. I will definately call around on the Timing Belt. I've been reading about changing it myself. It seems like it would be much easier on my little mazda truck than it would on my maxima. I'd just hate for it to break... every car should have a timing chain, sheesh.

Maybe I'll call the dealer, and a few other shops. It's so hard to find a good mechanic.

Matt

 

Where do you live? I'm in houston area and can do timing belts with my eyes closed..

let us know where you are and maybe we can recommend a reputable shop for you, or another member that's handy with wrenches would be willing to help out for a small fee.

 

are those US or Canadian Dollars?

 

Them are his mechanic getting rich off him dollars.....



Get a fsm and do it yourself .....You will save lots of money and learn something at the same time....

 

I would shoot my mechanic (wait dont have one.. ) If he wanted to charge me $455 to change the maf and air filter.

The filter takes less then 5 minuets (or about 5 if you include walking up to and away from the car...) to change, and you dont need tools, and the Maf needs a 10 or 12mm wrench and less then 15min. Try it yourself.

~Alex

 

I don't pay my mechanic

 

The unfortunate thing is that mechanics take advantage of lack of knowledge in the consumer. Same thing applies when CompUSA chages $50 to install a hard drive or video card that takes 5-10 minutes.

 

I will sell a MAF for 20 bucks plus shipping.

 

What it is is what you call flat rate. A technician at a shop gets a set amount of hours to do a job no matter how long it takes them. That's why i prefer to work on my own car. Also at the numerous u-pull it yards around here in florida there are numerous MAF's around.

 

I don't know about the timing belt costs, but you got totally hosed on the MAF.

They are the same on all 3rd gens and there are several guys here that would have sold you a working used one for far less than you paid. Just by looking at it, you could have figured out how to install it yourself.

That's what this site is for -- to learn about your car and get help fixing it. You have been a member for 5 years, but couldn't ask about the MAF before paying a mechanic? If you would have asked a couple of questions on this site or donated $20 to use the search feature, you would have saved yourself several hundred dollars.

I hope your car gets on the road healthy, but I also hope the next time something goes wrong you do a bit of research before throwing money at a mechanic.

 

I agree with the Timing belt price being too high. I got my belt changed for $400 a couple of years ago. Also, Matt93SE, were you in Tulsa, Oklahoma before Houston?

 

Yes, I was. moved to Houston from tulsa about 2 years ago.. will be moving back to Tulsa or OKC (Norman) in a year or so, when my wife finishes her Masters.

 

i love you guys

 

Ok now don't get all slobbery on us......

unless you are female...

 

Had a friend who got his Timing belt changed by you. Was trying to get your contact from him when I wanted to get mine changed too, but my friend couldnt remember any contact details. I did spend a few summers in Tulsa. If you ask me, I say move to Tulsa not OKC because as we all know OU sucks.

 

Ya, I changed my timing belt and water pump myself with just a Haynes manual and the tools that I bought along the way. It was a real learning experience, but pretty simple. I did this even before I had ever changed my own oil right after I got the car. I would definitely do it again when it needs it. If at all possible (as in, when you can make the time) definitely opt to do the work yourself. It just makes sense financially and plus gives you a great sense of accomplishment and experience to use later. You may even feel a little more "in" with the "in crowd" who do most of there own work, here on the .org or elsewhere. Good luck with whatever you choose, but definitly be informed before you make a decision. Money ain't cheap!

later,
Mrkanda

 

sweet stuff man

 

man i feel sorry for some people

i have a few spare mafs in various places in my house i usually stumble across one every once and a while and wonder where it came from

i would never trust a machanic there all very shady

 

man i feel sorry for some people

i have a few spare mafs in various places in my house i usually stumble across one every once and a while and wonder where it came from

i would never trust a machanic there all very shady but if i was a machanic and knew how easy it was to "mooch" i would do it too

 

you want sticker shock, go buy a new factory key and keyless entry for an 03 altima...my dad was told $208!! 100 for the key, 40 for keyless entry piece and 60 for the "correct" chip for keyless entry piece.

hey subs, do you have two keyboards? lol jk

 

Anyone in the PA/NoVA/MD area want to help me change a timing belt? I'll pay good $